Evening Star Newspaper, December 12, 1922, Page 1

ity colder; about 16 degrees. twenty-four hours ended day: Tem! Full report on page 14. WEATHER. Fair tonight and tomorrow. lowest temperature tonight, | 1 | Highest, 44, at 2 p.m. today; low- | est. 34, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday. much perature for at 2 p.m. to- Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28 " No. 28715, ENGLAND EXPECTED 10SOUNDUS. AGAIN ONDEBTS QUESTION French Represented Holding| British Might Make Ap- proaches Before Jan. 2. | “DISCREET INQUIRIES” ARE REPORTED PENDING | Officials Here Again- Point Out| Position of Government as Yet Is Unchanged. Py the Associated Press. i LONDON. December 12.—The belief | that Great Britain intends to sound out the American government’s willing-! ness to take some such action in ref- erence to allied debts as the possible cancellation of the French debt is as- xerted by the Daily Telegraph's diplo- matic expert. The French delegation to the ad- Jjourned premiers’ conference was rep- Tesented last night as holding that the British might approach the United States before the January 2 meeting of the premiers to ascertain whether America would be willing to consider either cancellation of the French debt or participation in a conference for consideration of such a step. Discreet Inquiries. In this connection the Telegraph's correspondent says: “It is the intention of the British zovernment, pending resumption of the fateraliied conversations, to make dis- | creet inquiries in Washington, either | through Ambassador Harvey or Am-| iassador Geddes, respecting the atti- which the American Treasury -+ a be inclined to take toward its European debtors other than ourselv if and after Great Britain had definite- v decided to remit the French and n debts to this country.” The writer, however, quotes French scurces as indicating the unlikelihood | of such action and refers to the fact that Premier Poincare, in stressing the words “European debts” in his ccmmunique last evening., implied that Europe intended to settle her own debts without soliciting aid from the other side of the Atlantic. Comment Is Doleful With the exception of this isolated | siatement. the London Rewspapers this morning. as if by common con-| sent, refrained from any comment and | speculations covering the possibility | of America’s becoming a participator | in the settlement of Europe’s mone- tary troubles. | Comment on the adjournment of the conference is rather doleful. | While the newspapers try to build | hope on the fact that the conversa- | tions are to be resumed, they do not conceal a fear that the Impossibility of harmonizing the allied_views will | again_he manifested in Paris. The ! hope is generally expressed that the | utmost will be done during the in- 1erval to prevent a complete collapse of the entente. All commentators make it clear that whatever happens, | Great Britain will have no share in occupying the Ruhr. i Await Law's Statement. 1 American official circles in London awaiting Prime Minister Bonar lLaw’'s proposed statement in thei house of commons Thursday for veri- fication or denfal of the report that overtures are to be made immediately to Washington with the object of de- termining whether the United States is ready to reconsider her stand on the question of the cancellation of a portion of the Interallied debts pro- viding Great Britain cancels the French debt. Mission Leaves December 27. In British official circles it was pointed out today that Stanley Bald- win, the chancellor of the exchequer, and’ the British debt-funding com mission would leave for the United States December 27 for discussion of the whole question of the allied debts. This consultation will be too late for the next premiers’ conference, but the opinion was expressed that the problem so broad that it could not be easily settled by telegraph be- fore the meeting of the premiers was reconvened, H The British financial mission will | include. besides Mr. Baldwin and his staff, M. C. Norman, governor of the Bank of England, and his staff, and Rowe Dutton, adviser to the treasury. | Visiting Premiers Leave. All the visiting premiers and their | delegations left London today. Many l.ondon fascistl, in picturesque head- dress and black shirts, went to the Victoria station to see Premier Mus- solini of Ttaly off. ' The reply of tke allied premiers to ! the latest German proposals on rép- arations was dispatched to Berlin last ! night in the from of a brief but cour- | teous note from Prime Minister Bonar law to Chaicellor Cuno. ! Mr. Bonar Law declared, with an ex- | pression of sincere regret, that “in the existing circumstances” the pro- posals did not offer a solution of the reparations difficulties. NO PROPOSAL RECEIVED. It Officials Point Out That U. S. Stand Is Unchanged. By the Associated Press. No proposal for American partici- pation in the reparations discussion by the allied premiers has reached the Washington government. On the contrary, even routine reports of an official character as to yesterday's de- velopments in London have been de- layed, and the Washington govern- ment still is dependent upon press! advices for Its information as to the | present status of the discussions. Pending examination of the sug- gestion that the United States cancel the French war debt to this govern- ment or tzite up a general European | settlement officials were not inclined to make any comment. In Hands of Commission. It is recalled, however, that au- thorized spokesmen for the United States government have held that the whole question of allied war debts to the United States has passed out of the hands of the executive branch of the government, Congress having charged the debt-funding commis- sion with the negotiation of all re- funding agreements. This commis- sion, moreo is specifically scribed in _the act creating it as a (Continued on Page 4, Column §.. B 2 - | on that ba Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. Airplane Raid on Kentucky Stills, Dry Agents Plan By the Associated Press. COVINGTON, Ky., December 12. —Preparations to mass 500 prohi- bition agents equipped with bomb- ing planes and machine guns for an onslaught on the mountaln stronghold of “Bob” Ballard's band of Menifee county moonshin- s are being made by federal wuthorities. according to three ofi- cials who returned to Covington from Mount Sterling yesterday. They had been a part of the posse of fifty prohibition agengs Who were repulsed after R. E. D8ff and David Treadway, prohibition agents, had been shot and killed in a three-day siege of the moon- shiners near Slate Creek. The three officers, Elmer Cor- rell, James weed and W. C. Hud- dleston. said the War Department would ‘be appealed to for two bombing planes and a number of wmachine guns. pointing out that only by bombing the entire moun- _tain would it be possible to drive the moonshiners from the caves and natural barricades afforded in the wild section of the state. Belief that moonshiners from other districts were constantly re- inforcing those intrenched in the Slate Creek®section was expressed by Correll. KELLER WINS POINT INDAUGHERTY QUIZ House Committee Decides, After Wrangle, to Follow His Process. BEGIN LIKELY TUESDAY Appointment of “Untrustworthy, Corrupt and Dangerous” Per- sons Opening Phase. After an hour and a half of wran- gling. the House judiciary committee voted today in executive session to proceed with the hearing of im- peachment charges brought against Attorney General Daugherty by Rep- resentative Keller, republican, Min- nesota. in the manner insisted on by Mr. Keller. The committee previously had de- cided to hear evidence on the charges in the order in which they were pre- scnted in Mr. Keller's bill of speci- fications, but when the hearing opened the Minnesota representative said he was not ready to go ahead Appointment Charge First He asked that the first charge to be taken up be that alleging the’ appointment to office by Mr. Daugh- erty of men who were “untrust- worthy, corrupt and dangerous to j the liberties of the people of the United States.” The second charge as Ils}ed for presentation by Mr. Keller is of “willful and deliberate failure and refusal” to enforce rail- road safety appliance laws, and the third that Mr. Daugherty had per- verted the legal processcs in insti- tuting {njunction proceedings against railroad workers at Chicago. Other Charges to Follow. Chairman Volstead announced that after these three charges had been heard, the committee, beginning not later than next Tuesday. would pro- ceed with the other charges in the order of their presentation. Three of these charges deal with alleged failure to en- force the anti-trust laws and it was stated that Samuel Untermyer of New York, general counsel for the Lockwood investigating committee, would represent Mr. Keller in their prosecution. MRS. IRENE 0SGOOD DIES. American Novelist Moved to Eng- land, But Kept U. S. Citizenship. NORTHAMPTON, England, Decem- ber 12.—Mrs. Irene Osgood, novelist and playwright, died at her home here today, after a month's illness. She Was born in the United States and retained her American citizenship. WASHINGTON, | I ! U. 3. CONSUL SHOT, Mason Mitchell, Envoy to Is- land of Malta, Suffers Slight Wound. IMOTIVE IS A MYSTERY Natives Are Aroused Over Attack Because of Their Esteem for E American. ; By the Associated Press, VALETTA, Malt December 12. Mason Mitchell of New York, Ames jcan consul on the Island of Malta, was shot and wounded today near Baracca. His assallant escaped, %but pursuit was immediately taken up. Mr. Mitchell was taken to a physician for treatment. “1 know nobody who could have done this,” exclaimed Mr. Mitchell as i assistance came to him. The consul is described as persona grata here, and he has taken keen in- terest in the welfare of the island and its people. The attack upon him has aroused indignation. Mr. Mitchell was slightly wounded. the bullet imbedded itself in his coat. He was taken to his home, where this afternoon he was confined to his bed, but with the expectation that he would be about in a day or *"Phe shooting is generally attrib- uted to a madman. Interesting Career. Mason Mitchell has had a pictur- esque career as an actor, writer, trav- eler, soldier and diplomat. Born in Hamilton, N. Y., in 1859, he went on the stage at the age of eighteen at the famous old Broadway Theater in 1 New York. He played with Edwin ,Bmm, Lawrence Barrett and John Mc- Cullough, later becoming leading man with Mme. Modjeska. He accompanied Mary Anderson during her theatrical engagements in Great Britain. time he managed the Garrick Theater, New York. Cited for Gallantry. He was chief of scouts in the Cana- | dtan_government through the Riel re- (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) \Fireman Off Duty Rings Alarms To See Mates W ork; Police Say Charles A. Lampe. a fireman, at- tached to No. 17 engine company. is under arrest at the tenth ptecinct police station, charged with having celebrated the beginning of a ten- day leave of absence last night by keeping his less fortunate buddies on | the hop answering three false alarms of fire. According to the police, Lampe and | Arthur R. Phillips, whose home is at 2532 11th street northwest, had every appearance of being under the influence of moonshine when they called at No. 17 engine house to pay their respects to the former's com- panions. ’ “G'wan,” retorted one of Lampe's compatriots. “It's colder'n charity outside, and here we are in a nice warm hLouse with nothing to do but pll}' pinochle. Go jump in the lake, will you.” 3 * “Is that so?’ the police declare Lampe responded. “Well, brother, I'm gonna have you birds out of here in less than five minutes.” Thea the Call Came. That was about 10:30 o'clock. At exactly '10:43 No. 17 was racing to an alarm of fire from box 6387, lo- cated at 12th and Irving streets northeast. Six other companies ar- rived on the scene with No. 17, but their combined forces failed to dis- cover even so much as a spark. Back to their card tables went the tired fire laddies, but they had scarcely seated themselves than “Big Ben” banged out another warning, this time summoning them to box 832, at 1st and W streets northwest. That was_an even {on‘ar and colder run for No. 17, which is located ‘way out near Brookiand. Not an ember glowed around that location when the firemen pulled up with a jerk; only the red noses e? several score freesing fire fighters showed bright. Chugging homeward once more, the firemen met their relief company i clanging down the street when it got within a few blocks of its station. “Suffering rattlesnakes!” quoth Lieut. J. W. Meyers. “What's this? Are we meeting ourselves coming out again ‘while we're still going home? “Where's the fire?” he yelled to his | relief as it roared past. “8125," a voiced howled back. i Makes Third Run. | “Damn!” some one remarked as 1 No. 17 about-faced and started after its third alarm in less than half an hour. street only a few Interested specta- tors politely inquired what was on fire. “Somebody’'s brain,” snapped back a | !hlrerln‘ pipeman as_ he rolled up sev- j eral thousands yards of hose, chucked |t on his truck and gave the order “Home!” ! At the last box, however, a pede trian, whose identity was not make known, had seen an automobile drive up. A man alighted, “pulled” the box, re-entered his automobile and sped away. Recalling the number of that machine's license tags, the pedestrian gave them to police of the tenth pre- cinct, and Sergt. J. W. McCormick, Private W. S. Brown and Private R. F. Nalls were assigned to find the “fire bug.” Investigation disclosed that the au- tomobile was owned by Lampe. Lampe and Phillips were found to live at the same address. Upon reaching that house they had little difficulty 'mx!n( Phiilips to come out and imme- diately placed him under arrest. Lampe, howevey, was more careful and refused to admit the policemen without & search warrant. Hearing of the policemen's dilemma, Battalion Chief J. J. Hanlon speeded to Lampe’'s home, forced him to get in his red chief's wagon and person: ally drove him to the tenth precinct, ‘where he and Phillips were charged with sending in three false alarms of fire, ASSAILANT ESCAPES At one | At Columbia road and Warder ; b DE G THeRe Yoy ARE/ HE KNowSg MORE THAN ANY LIVING MAN How UNSUCCESSFULLY! N VINDICATED! {Madman’s Target| on Isle of alta i | | ! -RarRis g WG MASON MITCHELL. COMMISSARY RIGHT! ASKED FOR CLERKS | Bill Would Give Civilian Em- | i ployes Advantages of 5 Military. | All of the civil employes of the gov- ernment would be permitted to pur- chase supplies of all kinds from the |auartermaster department of the |Army or the Navy at the rates charg- | {ed officers of the Army and the Navy junder the terms of a bill introduced today by Senator Smith W. Brookaart of Towa. 3 i The bill was referred to the Senate | military affairs committee, of waich ! Senator Brookhart is a member. 1t is | his intention to press the measure be- | fore that committee. He said that he' had reason to believe that other mem- | Ders of the'committee would support it. | Alms to Cut Costs. i “This bill to require the quarter- master department,” said Senator Brookhart, “to sell supplies to the clvil officers and employes of the gov- ‘ernment upon the same terms as the |mmtary has two purposes: | “In the first place, it should have some tendency to reduce the high cost of living, which has reached the apex here in Washington. “In the next place, it has a very great value as military training. I know of no way to train a commis- sary officer 50 efficlently as to require him actually to supply a population of several hundred ghousand people. | This is not an imaginary training. It {is a real problem, and if solved in this way in peace times it will prove the | efliciency of these officers for war.” Text of Bill. The bill provides: { “That any officer or employe of the United States or of the government of the District of Columbia, employed in the District of Columbia, is au- thorized to purchase supplies from the quartermaster department of the Army or of the Navy at the rates charged officers of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, and under such regulations and upon such proof of 1 authority to purchase under the provisions of this act, as the Secre- tary of War and the Secretary of the 1 Navy might jointly prescribe:” Senator Brookhart is recognized as one of the great experts on the sub- Ject of rifie practice. He served in| the Spanish war and during the world war he was eventually given charge of the rifie training of the 'entire United States Army. He is keenly in- terested in military affairs. | READY FOR CUSTOMS PARLEY. MELBOURNE, December 12.—J. A. Robb, Canadian minister of trade and {commerce, has completed preliminary negotiations with _the Australian commonwealth tariff board for a reciprocal customs agreement be- tween Canada and Australia, bening WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION | ton Ay it n PROTESTS DEFIED ON SUNDAY SINGS Music Association Votes to Continue Programs at Central High. leCHDOL BOARD TO ACT| Will Take Reply Under Considera- tion—Defended by House Chaplain. Defying the protests of ministers, church organizations and others against the Sunday night community concerts in the Central High School auditorium, the Community Association voted unanimously at a meeting in the City Club this after- noon to continue the community. sings. The association will inform the board of education of its action in a report to be drafted by a com- mittee of five. The school board will take the an- swer under consideration in answer to protests submitted to it. William Knowles Cooper, secretary of the Y. M. C. A. and chairman of the music association. read a letter he had directed to Rev. Gove Griffith Johnson, pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church, in which he defended the sings as “not prejudicial” to the interest of the church and of the kingdom. The letter reads, in part: Says Y. M. C. A. Has No Part. “It is true that I am chairman of the executive committee of the Com- munity Music Association. I was ap- pointed to that office through my con- nection with the Rotary Club and I have tried to make it understood that the Young Men's Christian Association : has absolutely no connection with it.. “I share with many other men Vi- tally interested in the church the conviction that the community sing on Sunday night is not prejudicial to the interest of the church and of the kingdom. “The white population of Washing- | is about 325,000. Of that num- ber not more than 25,000 attend all the Protestant churches together on Sunday evening and the Roman Cath- olic churches do not hold evening services. “The audiences at Central School Hall do not average 2.000 per night. 3 “Of course, since the meetings are held in the schoolhouse, the municipal authorities will not allow any re- ligious address to be introduced, but 1 think the spirit of the meeting is clean and &holesome and has a dis- tinctly cultural value.” In defense of the Sunday commu- nity concerts, Robert Lawrence, the director, declarea in his report to the association that the und-:rlying prin- ciple the community music move- ment {s “the bringing together of our people in harmony and true neighbor- Iiness.” “Sunday night is, the one time throughout the week when tamilies are united and at leisure,” said Alr. Lawrence's report. “In the early part of the present year the community concerts were held at ¢ o'clock in the afternoon, but it was found to be an impractical time for two reasons: Firat, the de- sire for outdoor recreation by the great mass of our citizens, who spend six days of the week shut up in offices and stores, and second, because of the household duties immediately follow- ing the Sunday dinner hour. Chang- ing the hour from 4 in the after- noon to 8:15 at night in the latter part of April, was done in response to a general request, and the atten- dance doubled immediately.” Denfes Admission Charged. Mr. Lawrence denied, in his report, that admission is charged to the Cen- tral auditorium for the community sings. “A section of seats is set aside on the lower floor and another section in the balcony for those holding eea- son tickets, and any others desiring to purchase reserved seat privilege,” he said. Of the 2,000 seats in the auditorium, he pointed out. but 416 are reserved in this manner, leaving 1,584 seats absolutely free. Since the concerts began, on October 28, he said, collec- tions amounting to $496.32 have been taken up as follows: October 29, $29.40; November 5, $83.27; November 12, $72.45; November 19, $102.96; No- vember 26, $118.70, and December 10, 89.54. ,A report on the luncheon meeting of the music association and the va- rious musicians of the city was made . (Continued on Page.2, Column 7.). Music| High | Star, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1922—FORTY-FOUR PAGES. John W anamaker Dies Suddenly, ‘The Star’s carrier system rt city block and the regular edition delivered to Washington homes as fast a3 the papers are printed. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” | ThoughBelieved to Be Recovering! Coughing Weakens Heart, Resulting in His Death. IPioneer Merchant, Ex-P. M. General, 84 Years Old. By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, December John Wanamaker died at his home }here at 8 am. The world-famous merchant and former Postmaster General passed away at his town house, 2022 Walnut Ix[re@t. He had been confined there since early in November with a heav cold contracted at his country estate, Lydenhurst, at Jenkintown, near here. He was eighty-four years old. Active Up to Time Stricken. Mr. Wanamaker was active In his business affairs up to the time he was stricken. He spent much of last winter in Florida and was in this city all summer, hard at work, with the exception of occasicnal surcease from the duties of his office for a day at the seashore. He was always an early riser and was usually in his mercantile establishment before its doors were opened. Mr. Wanamaker is survived by his son Rodman, a resident of New York ¢ity, and two daughters, Mary B. ‘Wwife of Barclay H. Warburton, and Elizabeth, wife of Norman MaeLeod, both of Philadelphia. Seized With Coughing. After Mr. Wanamaker was brought to his town, house he did not improve, NAVY WAGE BOARDS MUSTRECONSIDER Review Body Charges Too Much Discrepancy Between Them and Men. iDAYTON READY TO ACT | Forecast of General Increase Is Made, Based on Latest Move. Wage boards in the .Washington navy yard and other yards and naval sta- tions throughout the country have been directed by the Navy Department to reconsider the question of fixing wages of employes for the calendar vear 1923. The action was taken on the recom- mendation of the General Naval Board of Review. headed by Rear Admiral Strauss, and was a result of lengthy hearings held by the central board. Recommendations for higher wages are forecast in this action, according to those in close touch with the situation. 1t is the first time in the more than half century of wage-fixing at the navy vards and stations that the general board has sent the matter back to the local board practically with in- structions to act on the basis of data submitted. ! Dayton Ready ‘to Aet. Capt. J. H. Dayton, commandant of the Washington navy vard and gun factory, said today that he had not yet received the department’s order, but as soon as it arrived he would order the loczl wage board to con- vene and go over the entire subject. ‘This board is composed of Capt. De- frees, chairman; Capt. Brumby and Ccmmander Fergerson. The local board recommended a cut in the wages of the employes of one cent an hour. S0 many data were submitted by the representatives of the employes at the hearings conducted by the gen- eral wagoe board to show that the men should have a substantial in- crease in wages instead of a reduc- t'on tRat Lie board decided that the local boards had not gone as thor- oughly into the matter as they should. In other words, it was point- ed out. the boards either had the data (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) 2 SLAIN WITH AX WIFE DECAPITATED Four-Year-0Old Child Unable to Reveal Slayers of Her Parents. By the Associated Pres: MIDDLETOWN, Ind., December 12. —Willlam Shaffers, thirty-five‘years old, a farmer, and his wife were found murdered here today. Mrs. Shaffer's head had been cut off by a sharp in- strument, presumably &an ax, and Shaffer's head was split wide open. The*bodies were found by a party of passing farmers. Mrs, Shaffers’ body was found in bed, while that of her husband was found in the barn. A four-year girl, uninjyred, but suffering from expos- ure and lack of food. was unable to ive any details of the tragedy. B e couple are believed to have been dead for several days. No motive for the crime could be learned. The condition of the house, however, indicated that Tobbery was the probable cause. Neighbors last saw Shaffers at work on his farm last Thursday. The party of farmers who discov- ered the crime went to the home for aid, their automobile having down nesr the house.. . ‘broken 1 | | JOHN WANAMAKER. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 91,874. TWO CENTS. DISTRICT DEALERS TESTIFY IN' PROBE BY UL 5. GOAL BODY J. Maury Dove, Principal Wit- ness Today, Asks Leave to Refer to Books. MARSHALL SPOKESMAN FOR BOARD AT INQUIRY Prices Here Advanced 50 Cents Per Ton Since December 1, Wit- ness Says. in Washington today began giving testimony before the federal fact-finding coal commission at the first of a serles of hearings tha: promised to last more than two ful! days. The men who appeared today and about two weeks ago his condi- | Came before the commission in re- tion became such as to cause anxiety. A week ago, however, Mr. Wana- maker showed such marked improve- ment that his physicians ceased is- suing bulletins, At 5 o'clock this morning Mr. Wanamaker was seized with a violent coughing spell, his physicians stated. which resulted in extreme heart weakness. Maj. Bar. clay H. Warburton, Mr. Wanamaker" son-in-law, notified Press that Mr. Wanamaker died peacefully at 8 am. Mr. Wanamaker became unconscious at midnight. When his condition be- came grave during the night ail the members of the family were sum- moned, and all were present with the (Continued on Page 4, Column 2) GROWD SINGS ‘RED FLAG' NEAR COMMONS LOBBY By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 12—A turbu- j lent but short-lived scene was staged this afternoon in the great central hall adjoining the lobby of the house iof commons, when the police ejected a crowd of fifty unemployed men who had invaded the place and be- gun singing the “Red Flag” and waving placards. — The District Commissioners are considering the enactment of regula- tions to govern motor truck loads to reduce wear on streets and roads. ‘This came to light today when Maj. F. S. Besson, assistant engineer com- missioner incharge of nighways, held an informal conference at the Dis- trict building with a large group of truck owners and salesmen. Alter an hour of discussion Maj. Besson said he would consider the points brought out and submit recommendations to the Commissioners. “1 think,” said Maj. Besson later, “that if we can prevent overloading {of trucks and running on rims and wornout tires the Commissioners will be satisfied.” The consensus of opinion at the conference was that each size of truck should be kept to the load it was designed to carry rather than to fix one maximum load limit for all trucks. j . Maj. Besson expressed the belief that a large truck properly loaded does not do as much damage to the 8treets as a smaller one overloaded. In this connection reference was made to the recent hauling of large quantities of dirt over Connecticut iavenue, where a part of the roadway had just been paved. “I believe,” said the major. “that if | the same quantity of dirt had been hauled over that thoroughfare with the old-style horse-drawn dump wagons the wear on the new surface iwould have been greater than it waz from the trucks. Furthermore, it would have required so many more wagons than motor trucks to haul the idirt that there would not have been froom on the avenue for any other s vehicles.” 1t has not been decided what branch of the District service would handle the regulation of truck loads, but it was intimated the task might be as- signed to the sealer of weights and measures. | Possible Recommendations. Maj. Besson indicated that the fol- lowing_ procedure might be recom- mended to the Commissioners: That they ascertain from the truck manufacturing companies what the load and size of tires should be for each type truck. A list of these capacities would be kept in the office handling the prob- lem. When an owner applies for his license the permit clerk would ascer- tain from the list what the capacity of that particular truck should be. | Before issuing the license the clerk ! would require that the capacity be | painted clearly on the body “f the vehicle. l If this course is decided upon it probably will be necessary to have one or two inspectors to make rounds of the places from which trucks load up to see that the capacity limits are ) adhered to. | Maj. Besson indicated that if such (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) Elected as Joke, | ' -Says Girl Judge, l | But Must Serve| By the Assoclated Press. NICKERSON, Kan.. December 12. —Declaring she won in the recent election because club women jok- ingly wrote her name on the bal- lot, Miss Clara Arnold, nineteen years old. protested yesterday when asked to qualify for the of- fice of justice of the peace and | police judge. “It's a joke.” she sald. “I don't want to be called Judge Arnold.” Informed she must qualify or be subject to prosecution, she saig: “I.will qualify, but 1 don’t want the job.” I Friends declare Miss Arnold is | the youngest if not the only wom- an police judge in Kangus. sponse to subpoenas issued last nigh: from the office of United States Mar- shal E. C. Snyder. at the request of the coal commission. The commission, it was explained by former Vice President Marshall, a {member of the body. requested is- suance of the subpoenas in order “1o the Associated | find out why coal prices in Washing- ton were advanced.” Washingtonians Summoned. Representatives of the following retail coal dealers were asked to ap- pear: Allegheny Coal Company. Blick Bros. & Co., Inc.; the J. Ma Dove Grifith Coal Com- pany, liam King & Son, the L. E White Coal Company, Frazier & Co. of Anacostia, D. C.; the Charles F. Miller Company of Bethesda, Md., and the T. W. Perry Company of Chevy Chase Lake. Md. Mr. Marshall. acting as spokesman for the commission at the hearing to- day, announced that none of the ceal men indicted by the grand jury las: summer for alleged price-fixing in Washington would be required to testify until after the commission had conferred with the district attorney regarding the propriety of such a pearange in advance of trial on the indictment. Only two of the indicted men, both connected with the Wi liam L. King Company, appeared ai the hearing today. Marshall Explains Subpoenas. The commission, Mr. Marshall said. had not known of the indictments when the subpoenas were issued yes- terday, and did not wish to embarrass the district attorney or the indicted men by their appearance before the federal fact-finding body. Dr. George Otis Smith, & member of the commis- sion, said the hearings begun today were instituted on the commission’s own motion as part of its fact-finding duties. J. Maury Dove, jr., representing the J. Maury Dove Coal Company. was the principal witness at the hearing today. The final witness before to- day's hearing was W. B. Swindell, representing Blick Bros, Inc. Dove Is Questioned. Mr. Dove was questioned at greail length and in detail, by all the six members of the commission sitting today, with Mr. Marshall acting spokesman. Dr. Charles P. Neill, a member, asked Mr. Dove to submit before the commission tomorrow many detailed statements as to the business of the Dove company, which Mr. Dove said he could not remember without referring to the books of the company. Among the facts asked by Dr. Neill were statements of the tons of coal received by the company each day from September 15 up to tomor- row morning, from whom purchased and the f.o.b. price per car at the mine. Dr. Neill also asked for the selling price of each size of anthracite from September 15 up to tomorrow morning and the cost of the tons of each size sold from March 1 to Sep- tember 15 and the price charged by the Dove company. Mr. Dove said two experts of the coal commission are now engaged in examining the books of the company and would give further detalled in- formation for the commission. Mr. Dove, questioned by Mr. A shall, said it was true that anthracite coal prices in Washington had ad- vanced 50 cents per ton since Decem- ber 1. He said the reasons for the advance were that prices at the mine have advanced and that in order that local dealers may keep a safe margin of profit above expenses, they aliv were forced to increase the price of coal to the consumer. Mr. Dove ad- mitted, under examination, that his company has two sets of prices, ono set_for the small domestic consumer and one for the large purchaser. tv whom coal is dellvered In large lots. He pointed out, however, the dis- tance of delivery from the company’s dump makes a difference in price to the consumer Says He Lost Business. Mr. Dove asserted that establish- ment of the government fuel yards in Washington had taken away from his compuny approximately 60,000 tons of coal business per year. He declar-d that if this business were returned he would cut the price of all coal to the consumer immediately 50 cents per ton. The business done by the fue} yards, if he had it bach. he explained, would reduce the cost of overhead in his business by keep- ing men and trucks going during the summer. Thirty-five c.nts of the recent 0- cent increase in anthracite coal goes to _the mine operator, Or COmpany selling the coal, the witness added. while about 15 cents goes to the deal- er. Mr. Dove intimated that the coal strike last spring and summer cost his company in the neighborhood ot $50,000, through inability to get coal, while overhead costs, he said, went on as if business was at 100 per cent. He added that he remembered one month in which the Dove Company lost $6,000, and said if the strike had ended June 1, as dealers hoped, his company wouid not have lost money. He will be satisfied, he said, if the Dove Company breaks even during the present coal year, and added that it is not the policy of the e A see how much money can be obtained for coal, but how prices can be kept as low as possible commensurate with the service rendered. Mr, Dove said the company ‘loses money on its business in bituminous coal, which, he said, comprised about 65 per cent of its-entire business. He (Continued on Page 2, Column 2)